A couple of questions from an AAdvantage newbie

[diningdecadence]

Apologies as I seem to ask this question regularly but haven’t ever followed through and booked.

Auntie wants to get to MAD from BNE (or SYD/MEL)

Can you get Etihad and Qatar at a through rate? Ie not 2 awards?

And same for CX?

(Ideally don’t want to have to go BA/ connect through LHR)

Thanks!

 

[potm]

Etihad via AUH will have to be 2 awards.
Qatar via DOH or CX via HKG can be booked as 1 award.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That’s not how my understanding of the published fare rule works. As long as there is a fare from Syd-Lhr which there obviously is.

The other restrictions is a maximum mileage rule which is quite generous and a max of 4 flights.

If you check out this thread on FT - the last few posts (from 2337 onwards) discuss published - rather than constructed - fares (and the award needs to follow the allowed routing rules for the published fare): AA oneworld & Other Airline Partner Award information, rules (master thd) - Page 156 - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[potm]

If you check out this thread on FT - the last few posts (from 2337 onwards) discuss published - rather than constructed - fares (and the award needs to follow the allowed routing rules for the published fare): AA oneworld & Other Airline Partner Award information, rules (master thd) - Page 156 - FlyerTalk Forums

American Airlines Introduces the "Anti-Matthew Rule" on Award Tickets - Live and Let's Fly

Here’s an example of what is possible.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

American Airlines Introduces the "Anti-Matthew Rule" on Award Tickets - Live and Let's Fly

Here’s an example of what is possible.

Except that it's not possible if AA is limiting award segments.

But it depends if there was a valid fare, permitting that routing, at the time that fare was purchased. That could have either been a fare with routing rules, or a fare limited by MPM.

Most people don't have any problems, if you're flying relatively direct there's likely to be a fare for the route you want. But it's the exceptions that usually bring up the rule.

 

[potm]

Yeah they’re limiting to 4 segments but are pretty flexible otherwise.
4 segments, zone routing rules, don’t do anything too ridiculous and you’ll be fine.

 

[rogerkambah]

Just wondering whether AA agents would have a better view of available OW flights than a QF NB looking at the QF award site. In the NB view of the QF website I can't 'see'any award availability for CX HKG-SYD, BNE or MEL in the first half of October.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just wondering whether AA agents would have a better view of available OW flights than a QF NB looking at the QF award site. In the NB view of the QF website I can't 'see'any award availability for CX HKG-SYD, BNE or MEL in the first half of October.

Check on the JAL tool. It is more accurate. Or call. Whatever’s easiest.

 

[grussellt]

Just wondering whether AA agents would have a better view of available OW flights than a QF NB looking at the QF award site. In the NB view of the QF website I can't 'see'any award availability for CX HKG-SYD, BNE or MEL in the first half of October.

The earlier you book an award the better (within the limits for that airline). You can also try searching on Awardnexus if you think QFF is not showing correct availability. Awardnexus will provide some free searches without paying a fee.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I thought award nexus drew results from the qantas website? which could lead to the display of phantom availability? or does it match results with say JAL and only show the results if both align?

 

[grussellt]

I thought award nexus drew results from the qantas website? which could lead to the display of phantom availability? or does it match results with say JAL and only show the results if both align?

There is a level of filtering and cross-checking on Award Nexus and the site states:

"Award Nexus has been designed from-the-ground-up to be a High-Quality Award Search Engine. Instead of the typical free but lower-quality searches done by airline sites or phone agents, usage in Award Nexus is measured by points and you are charged a small fee for your searches. In return, searches in Award Nexus, on average, return 20% more results than a standard search."
I've always found it to be reliable.

 

[rogerkambah]

Check on the JAL tool. It is more accurate. Or call. Whatever’s easiest.

The JAL Mileage bank tool only shows me JAL flights routing through Tokyo. Doesn't show me any OW options. Would I be doing something wrong?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The JAL Mileage bank tool only shows me JAL flights routing through Tokyo. Doesn't show me any OW options. Would I be doing something wrong?

You need to select partner airline redemptions. Then choose the specific airline you’re after (for example CX, QF etc).

 

[auriga]

Sorry, can someone please advise if the following is allowed as one award with AA.

SYD-PER on Qantas, connecting to Qatar PER-DOH-LHR

 

[zenyattamondatta]

Sorry, can someone please advise if the following is allowed as one award with AA.

SYD-PER on Qantas, connecting to Qatar PER-DOH-LHR

Just for reference purposes, I’ve done it from CBR.

 

[earlyriser]

Just for reference purposes, I’ve done it from CBR.

For how many points?

 

[zenyattamondatta]

For how many points?

85k in J.

 

[earlyriser]

Data point: Saw QF11 pop up on BA in J in a few months. Didn't show on AA, but was able to reserve over the phone. =) Very happy. Have been looking for a few months.

 

[bernardblack]

I have an AAdvantage business award MEL-SYD-NRT (QF, JL) for me and the missus. We're on the first morning flight from MEL with a short layover before the SYD-NRT flight, and now they've changed the A330 to a B737. So we think we'd rather fly to SYD the previous evening, sleep in an airport hotel, then have a more relaxed departure in the morning.

I can find plenty of availability for the replacement QF MEL-SYD sector, but the AA agent said she couldn't change it because there is no award availability on the JL sector.

Is this a genuine problem, that I can't change flight A because flight B (on which we're confirmed) is full? Or is it a HUACA case?

 

[serfty]

It should not be a problem ... Its a oneworld to oneworld change with no variance to origin, destination or transits.